Opinions June 12, 2015

Indiana Supreme Court
The following opinion was issued after IL deadline Thursday.
In the Matter of the Adoption of Minor Children: I.B. and W.B.: B.B. v. B.C. and J.L., and Indiana Department of Child Services
82S05-1502-AD-63
Adoption. Reverses trial court adoption petition in favor of maternal grandmother B.C. that had been affirmed by the Court of Appeals. Justices overturned a COA ruling that I.C. § 31-19-11-1(c)(15), which disqualifies certain felons from adoption, is unconstitutional. The law is constitutional because its prohibitions are rationally related to the classifications they draw, the court ruled. The case is remanded to the trial court to reconsider the petition in view of the absolute statutory bar to B.C. adopting.

Indiana Court of Appeals
K.S. v. Review Board of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development
93A02-1409-EX-630
Agency action. Affirms Department of Workforce Development denial of unemployment benefits for a man who voluntarily left employment claiming back pain and the need to care for his son who he believed to be a danger to himself or others. K.S. voluntarily left employment without good cause, and he was not entitled to an exception for family or domestic violence.

State of Indiana v. William F. Stevens
62A01-1406-CR-268
Criminal. Reverses order suppressing evidence after William F. Stevens’ arrest following his purchase of pseudoephedrine, a precursor for methamphetamine, from a drugstore. The trial court abused its discretion in granting the order because police had probable cause to arrest Stevens based on information received from the Indiana Data and Communication System. The database erroneously reported a Florida meth conviction, but Stevens had been convicted of dealing Xanax. Nevertheless, it was reasonable for officers to rely on the IDACS information, which provided probable cause.

Rasha El Adawy v. Mary Sanders (mem. dec.)
49A05-1409-PO-445
Protective order. Affirms issuance of protective order against Rasha El Adawy.